EmerAid® Intensive Care™ HDN™ Feline

“Highly Digestible Nutrition” is a semi-elemental therapeutic diet scientifically designed for the critically ill cat. Developed by an expert panel, including critical care veterinarians and nutritionists, this therapeutic diet is easily absorbed and highly digestible.

Available in 100-gram, 400-gram, and 2-kg pouches

Powder is easily mixed with water to create a formula that can pass through tubes as small as 5-French

Storage, Handling & Expiration Date

Store EmerAid® Intensive Care HDN™ Feline in a cool, dry space. The shelf life of unopened EmerAid® Intensive Care HDN™ Feline is approximately 18 months from the date of manufacturing (see the “Best Before” label). Refrigerate after opening. Use EmerAid® Intensive Care HDN™ Feline within 1 month of opening.

***WARNING*** EmerAid® Intensive Care HDN™ Feline has been scientifically designed for extreme digestibility. Avoid contamination by handling the product carefully. Keep the powder dry until ready to mix with water, and use a clean, dry scoop. Do not cross-contaminate with scoops using non-EmerAid foods as contamination can cause harmful bacterial growth.

Mixing Directions

Use a syringe to draw up the mixture. When finished, flush and clean the feeding syringe. Make fresh for each feeding. Discard remaining food after each feeding.

For your convenience and your patient’s benefit, standard mixing directions have been updated in 2016:

Feeding Style

EmerAid Powder(parts)*

Water ** (parts)

ME *** (kcal/ml)

Syringe

3

2

2.41

Tube (10Fr or larger)

1.5

2

1.65

Tube (5Fr-8Fr)

1

2

1.13

* “Parts” indicate the proportions needed. To mix EmerAid HDN, you can use the scoop provided, a syringe cap, or any measuring implement of your choice as long as the proportions described above remain consistent ** Mix with hot water measuring 122°F (50°C) *** Metabolizable energy when made as directed

Feeding Recommendations

Adult Cat Feeding Recommendations

EmerAid® Intensive Care HDN™ Feline is a therapeutic product to be used under the supervision of a veterinarian. Begin with 25% to 30% of daily caloric requirements and gradually adjust the volume and number of feedings based on patient condition. A volume of 5-10 ml/kg/feeding is generally well tolerated via esophagostomy or gastric tube. Calculate Resting Energy Requirement (RER) by using the following: RER = [70 x BW(kg)0.75].

When fed for longer than 1 month, supplement EmerAid® Intensive Care HDN™ Feline daily with 1% fish oil on a dry matter basis. When EmerAid HDN is fed to lactating animals longer than 1 week, it is recommended that the diet be supplemented daily with 1% fish oil (DMB). The NRC recommends a level of 0.025 g/1,000 kcal ME of a combination of DHA and EPA for both kittens and adult cats.

Kitten Feeding Recommendations

Photo courtesy of Kara M. Burns, MS, MEd, LVT, VTS (Nutrition)

Kittens have relatively high energy requirements when compared to adult cats. EmerAid ® Intensive Care HDN™ Feline meets or exceeds requirements for all life stages with the one exception of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels. When EmerAid HDN is fed to growing animals longer than 1 week, it is recommended the diet be supplemented daily with 1% fish oil (DMB). The NRC recommends a level of 0.025 g/1,000 kcal ME of a combination of DHA and EPA for both kittens and adult cats.

Feedings are cautiously planned for every 4 to 6 hours in this patient. Dividing 97 ml by 4 gives us approximately 24 ml per feeding. Begin with 30% to 50% of this estimated volume for the first feeding: ~7 ml to 12 ml.

Evaluate the Patient’s Feeding Response

Did the patient accept this feeding well? Does the food appear to be tolerated by the patient’s GI tract?

If yes, increase the volume fed gradually over the course of two to three feedings. Frequency and volume should be adjusted based upon patient response, but a cautious plan could be:

First meal:

1/3 of calculated energy requirements

~ 7 ml

Second meal:

2/3 of calculated energy requirements

~ 14 ml

Third meal:

3/3 of calculated energy requirements

~ 24 ml

If patient still tolerates the increase in frequency and in volume of EmerAid® Critical Care HDN™ Feline, continue feeding per below:

Daily meals:

24 ml four times/day

Long-Term Feeding

Patients requiring long-term (4+ weeks) nutritional support may remain on EmerAid® Intensive Care HDN™. If the patient is able to tolerate more whole nutrients they may gradually be transitioned to EmerAid® HDN™ Sustain™ Recovery Nutrition, under the direction of a veterinarian. EmerAid® Sustain™ HDN™ Feline is indicated for patients recovering from a critical illness but are not ready for their normal diet.